It was an interesting day on the water, to say the least, our guests got to experience the ever-changing weather on Vancouver Island. We pushed off from our dock and headed into the Strait of Georgia with the sun shining warm and bright, we had a report of possible orca in that general area! From there our vessels set off in different directions to maximize our chances of finding these whales. After putting on many nautical miles and searching with no blows in sight we took a little break to see our sea lions, after spending time watching our noisy and smelly big friends we got right back into search mode with one of the open boats tucking into the Gulf Islands, just as it started to sprinkle on us. This was a great decision from our Captain, shortly after another report of orca just North of Dodd Narrows came in, after passing through Dodd we slowed and began scanning for the iconic black fins. Now the rain decided to come down a little harder, but it was worth it, there were our whales swimming right alongside one of the large cargo ships at anchor.

This family was the T041s, we have only seen this family once before, so we were delighted to spot them again. The orca present were:

T041 Lawrie ♀ (~1966)
T041A Jemison ♀ (1988)
T041A2 Tree (2013)
T041A3 (2018)

As we watched them travel along the shore of Protection Island we got hit with a bit of hail, then a few snowflakes, followed by a gigantic crack of thunder! We were thankful we located the T041s just around the corner from home as the temperature had dropped and we started to feel the chill even with our cozy anti-exposure suits, but not before having a giggle about how we searched long and far, to find them in the Outer Nanaimo Harbour 5 mins from our dock.

Why have we only seen this family once before? Our transient orca have a massive range from California to Alaska, and they travel vast distances. Bigg’s killer whales, also known as transient orca, are among the most remarkable travellers in the marine world. Unlike their fish-eating resident counterparts, these stealthy predators specialize in hunting marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even other whales. Their nomadic lifestyle takes them across vast distances, constantly on the move in search of prey. But just how far do these apex hunters travel in a day, a year, or even a lifetime? Let’s explore the incredible journeys of transient orca.

On any given day, transient orcas can cover between 100 to 160 kilometres (60 to 100 miles) as they navigate coastal waters and offshore regions in pursuit of prey. Unlike resident orcas that follow salmon migrations, transients roam unpredictably, making their movements harder to track. They often appear suddenly in an area, hunt efficiently, and then disappear just as quickly, leaving little trace behind.

Over the course of a year, transient orca can travel tens of thousands of kilometres. Transients may traverse entire coastlines, from Alaska to California and beyond. They are known to move fluidly between different marine environments, from sheltered bays to open ocean waters, as they seek out concentrations of prey.

The ability to cover such extensive distances allows transient orca to take advantage of shifting prey populations and environmental conditions.

Given that transient orca can live up to 90 years (for females) and around 30-50 years (for males), their lifetime travel distances are truly astonishing. Even at a conservative estimate of 100 kilometres per day, a 50-year-old transient orca could have travelled around 1.8 million kilometres (1.1 million miles)—the equivalent of circling the Earth more than 45 times! This continuous movement is essential to their survival, ensuring they always have access to hunting opportunities.

The nomadic lifestyle of transient orca is driven by three key factors:

Hunting Marine Mammals – Unlike fish-eating resident orca, transients rely on marine mammals for food. Because their prey moves unpredictably and often migrates seasonally, transients must be equally adaptable, constantly searching for new hunting grounds.
Small, Fluid Social Groups – Transient orca travel in smaller, more dynamic groups compared to resident orca. This allows them to be stealthier while hunting and gives them the flexibility to move freely over vast areas without being restricted by large family pods.
Environmental and Human Influences – Transients adjust their travel patterns based on changes in prey availability, ocean conditions, and even human activities such as shipping traffic and noise pollution, which can impact their hunting efficiency.

Here on Vancouver Island, we are fortunate to witness transient orca in action as they navigate the Salish Sea and beyond. Their unpredictable appearances, dramatic hunting behaviours, and vast movements make them one of the most thrilling marine predators to observe!

After spending time with our orca in the rain, allowing our onboard Naturalists to get some moody Westcoast photos, we had a short ride back to port!

Please enjoy the photos below by Naturalists Chy Brewster, Val Watson and Vanessa Vereschahen.